Manifolding mechanism for typewriters



June 1 3- J. w. FADER 2,320,918

MANIFOLDING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed June 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 ,3 r Fi g1. 2

2 9 7 Inventor.

domes W.Fc1der b flwdwazm June 1, 1943. J w FADER 2,320,918

MANIFQLDI NG MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed June 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.8. 2 I7 26 2s 24 22 20 2| InvenTor.

Patented June 1, 1943 UNETE STE T:

.FFECE MANIFOLDING MECHANISM FOR TYPE- WRITERS 7 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in manifolding mechanism for typewriters for producing aplurality of copies of various instruments or forms, such as bills of lading, shipping orders, bills of accounts, specifications, etc., on continuous sheets each having a series of forms with transverse perforations between adjacent forms, thereby enabling the typist to fill out the successive forms in multiple and prcgressivelytear off a completed set, and thereupon proceed with the manifolding of the next set of superposed forms.

The present invention relates to manifolding mechanism of the character described comprising a carrier for a plurality of transfer sheets adapted to be interleaved with the superposed form sheets, with a transverse bar so secured to the rear edge portion of the carrier as to stiffen the carrier and to enable it to lift the bar over the sharp edges of the paper deflector at the back of the typewriter, and also to act as a stop to prevent improper removal of the carrier and the transfer sheets from interleaved relation to the form sheets. The bar also provides means which may be conveniently grasped by the operator after one set of forms has been completed and actuated to pull the interleaved transfer sheets lengthwise of the series of form sheets into proper interleaved relation to the next set of superposed forms.

More specifically the invention constitutes an improvement upon the construction disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,273,255, granted February 17, 1942, but differs therefrom mainly in the form of the carrier for the transfer sheets and the manner in which a transverse follower or stop bar is detachably secured to the carrier.

In the construction disclosed in my prior patent the rear portion of the carrier is cut away centrally to provide extensions which have their ends thickened by folding or curling over, or by a suitable bar secured thereto to provide an anchorage adapted to be inserted in suitable recesses or slots in the end portions of the transverse follower or stop bar. In this construction and in other types of manifolding mechanism, either the ends of carrier extensions or the entire width of the carrier is provided with thickened portions adapted to enter a slot or slots in the stop bar or follower. Where long superposed series are employed, as is usual in modern business methods, a manifolding pack, usually known as a carbon pack, is interleaved with the first set of forms to be typed and the remaining forms of the series folded back and forth and placed in a suitable box or wrapping. In many instances several sets of forms are thus packaged in a single container. f

Furthermore, in some instances where the sheets have a long series of forms one or more additional transfer packs or carbon packs are interleaved with the superposed form sheets at suitable intervals in order to provide fresh transfer sheets after the transfer sheets of the preceding forms become worn, in order that the succeeding transfer sheets may receive a clear impression, and the strip of form sheets folded and packagedin the manner above described. In either of such instances the thickened portions at the ends of the transfer sheets or their extensions will be positioned beneath the transfer sheets and the pressure of the superposed transfer sheets will cause an undesirable smudging or blurring of the transfer material upon the contiguous portions of the form sheets.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a carrier in which such thickened portion is eliminated, thus avoiding the smudging of the form sheets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carrier having novel means for engaging releasable locking means upon the follower or stop bar.

A further object of the invention is to provide the follower or stop bar with spring actuated releasable means for clamping or for interlocking and clamping the rear edge portion of the carrier to the stop bar in such manner as to stiffen the rear edge portion of the carrier.

These and other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the carrier embodying the invention, a portion of one of the reenforced side edges of the carrier being broken away to illustrate the manner in which it is adhesively secured to the body of the carrier;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a transfer or carbon pack showing the form sheets interleaved with the transfer sheets thereof, the form sheets be ing broken away beyond the rear edge of the carrier, and illustrating the follower or stop bar secured to the rear edge portion of the carrier;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the reverse side of the carrier and stop bar partially broken away centrally andihaving one end of the carrier broken away to show the locking mechanism for securing the stop bar to the carrier;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionalview on line 4-4 2, centrally broken away, showing the manner in which the clamping members and guides interengage the carrier and clamp the side edge portions thereof against the stop bar;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 4, showing the clamping means in upright relation to the stop bar in registry with apertures through the carrier which is located above it in position to be applied to the stop bar;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of an edge of the carrier and the end of the stop bar and clamp which are secured to it; and,

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on line ll Fig. 1.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings the carrier for the transfer sheets comprises a rectangular sheet I, of thin tough flexible material such, for example, as tough paper or cloth, having a straight front edge 2 and a continuous parallel rear edge 3. The front portion of the carrier is provided with a series of slits 4 and 5 parallel to the front edge 2 and suitably spaced from each other and which are of a length slightly wider than the form sheets to be manifolded. The slits terminate short of the side edges 6 and l of the sheet and the marginal portions 8 and 9 of the sheet beyond the ends of the slits are folded over and secured to the body of the sheet by an adhesive Ill extending from approximately the rearmost slit to the end of the marginal portions 8 and 9, so that the marginal portions 8 and 9 thus adhesively secured to the body of the sheet forms a substantial reenforcement for the side edge portions of the sheet.

Preferably the body of the sheet and the folded over marginal portions are provided with apertures H and I2 adjacent the straight rear edge of the sheet to permit suitable clamping members and guides pivotally mounted upon the follower or stop bar to be inserted therethrough and clamped upon the sheet as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The forward ends or the folded over marginal portions desirably are provided with rounded edges Hi to avoid wrinkling when the carrier is fed beneath the platen of the typewriter. To form a transfer or carbon pack the rear ends of the transfer or carbon sheets M are wrapped around the respective strips l5 and adhesively secured thereto, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The form sheets IS, with the exception of the outermost sheet, are inserted through the slits 4 and 5, so that the superposed end forms are properly positioned for manifolding, as shown in Fig. 7.

The carrier may be provided with any desirable number of slits to form as many carbonsupporting strips as may be required by the number of form sheets to be manifolded.

The follower or stop bar I! desirably is a semicylindrical wooden bar and is provided at its ends with concave recesses l8, the edges IQ of the walls of which are flush with the fiat surface of the bar, as shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7.

In the preferred construction mechanism for clamping the bar upon the carrier is in the form of narrow fiat plates having reversely bent end portions 2| providing U-shaped guides for the edges of the form sheets. The clamping plates 20 are provided with relatively narrow extensions 22 which pivotally engage pintles 23 in the ends of suitable straps or bars 24 which are secured by screws 25 in shallow rabbets 26 in the flat face of the bar ll. The extensions 22 are provided at their ends with laterally extending flanges 21 which are engaged by leaf springs 28 which are conveniently clamped beneath the bars 24, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

By reason of this construction the clamping members and guides 20 and 2| may be held in an upright position, as illustrated in Fig. 5, or in clamping relation to the end portions of the bar H to grip or clamp the reenforced side edges of the carrier upon the bar, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

While the clamping and guiding members as illustrated are located at a short distance from the ends of the bar, as illustrated in Fig. 5, it will be obvious that the clamping mechanism may be located in such position that the pivot is at the end of the bar, so that the clamping and guiding members may be swung inwardly, instead of outwardly as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. In such case the clamping members will be reversely bent to enable the guiding means properly to engage the reenforced side members of the carrier sheet, as will beobvious to those skilled in the art.

In the assembling of the follower or stop member upon the carrier, when in the form illustrated in Fig. 4, the clamping member and guide is swung about its pivot to upright position, illustrated in Fig. 5, to cause them to register with the apertures II in the carrier sheet and to be readily inserted therethi ough. The clamping members and guides may then be swung to horizontal position, illustrated in Fig. 4, so that the under surface of the clamping members will press firmly upon the upper surface of the sheet and crimp the edge portions of the sheet slightly into the recesses l8, thereby effectively gripping the edges of the sheets. 7

By reason of this construction the continuous straight rear edge portion of the sheet is held firmly against the stop bar thereby stiffening the rear edge portion of the carrier so that the carrier will more readily lift the bar over the edge of the usual paper deflector at the back of the typewriter.

Where a series of superposed form sheet units are to be manifolded, the rearmost corners of at least the first and second sheets desirably are lightly adhesively secured together to maintain the otherwise free ends of the sheet in proper registry. This can be accomplished by securing the corners together by a mere pin point of adhesive so that they can be readily separated when withdrawn from the typewriter.

In the operation of the device the clamping and guiding members of the carrier are first raised to upright position, as illustrated in Fig. 5. then inserted through the apertures in the carrier and swung to the clamping position illustrated in Fig. 4, thereby clamping the reenforced edge portions of the carrier against the stop bar, The carrier is then laid upon the flat surface and the front ends of the form sheets inserted through the U-shaped guide 2| of the clamp and the respective form sheets then inserted thruogh the slits 4 and 5, etc., and drawn into interleaved relation with the transfer sheets. Each of the carbon sheets l4 desirably is provided at the central portion of its forward end with a recess 29 to enable the form sheets to be grasped between the thumb and finger of the hand of the operator without pinching the carbon sheets which are interleaved therebetween. Upon completion of the typing of one set of form sheets the operator will grasp with one hand the superposed form sheets at the recesses 29 in the carbon sheets and with the other hand release the bar which clamps the superposed sheets upon the platen then pull the form sheets straight up, causing the stop bar to engage the platen and hold the carbon sheets in fixed position while continuing pulling the form sheets until the carbon shows below the transverse perforations in the form sheets and the carbon sheets are properly placed to manifold the next set of forms. The operator, while still holding the form sheets at the recesses 29 in the carbon sheets to keep them rigid, will reengage the bar which clamps the superposed sheets upon the platen and wind the platen backwardly until the line of perforation rests upon the platen. The operator will then tear off the finished form sheets by pressing the superposed sheets against the platen with his thumb and giving a quick snap to the finished form sheets, and will then finally wind the platen until the first writing line of the next set of forms is properly positioned for typing.

By reason of the use of a wooden bar for a follower or stop bar a minimum amount of weight is imposed upon the superposed form sheets thereby creating minimum friction between the undermost sheet and the paper defiector at the back of the typewriter and also enabling the sheets to ride over it more easily.

By reason of the present construction the follower or stop bar can be more readily removed from the carrier than in usual constructions and without danger of distorting or tearing the rear portion or extensions of the carrier as is likely in other constructions.

Where a carrier pack or carrier packs are pre-assembled in the foremost and/or other sets of form sheets in the case of a long series of superposed form sheets and the form sheets then folded to provide a convenient package, the absence of any thickened portion of the carrier will avoid the likelihood of smearing the form sheets by reason of local pressure of the weight of the superposed sheets, so that clean copies of all the duplicated forms will be produced.

It will be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention shown and described herein is of an illustrative character and not restrictive of the meaning and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. Manifolding mechanism for typewriters comprising a carrier of thin tough flexible sheet material having means for supporting a plurality of superposed transfer sheets in separated relation to permit form sheets to be interleaved therewith, and a stop bar having pivotally mounted spring actuated clamping means for releasably securing it to rear edge portions of said carrier.

2. Manifolding mechanism for typewriters comprising a carrier of thin tough flexible sheet material having reenforced side edge portions and provided with means for supporting a plurality of superposed transfer Sheets in separated relation to permit form sheets to be interleaved therewith, and a stop bar having sprin actuated clamping means releasably engaging the reenforced side edges of the carrier.

3. Manifolding mechanism for typewriters comprising a carrier of thin tough flexible sheet material having reenforced side edge portions and provided with means for supporting a plurality of superposed transfer sheets in separated relation to permit form sheets to be interleaved therewith, a stop bar having spring actuated clamping means releasably engaging the reenforcedsside edges of the carrier and provided with guides for the edges ofthe form sheets.

4. Manifolding mechanism for typewriters comprising a carrier of thintough flexible sheet material having reenforced side edge portions and provided with means for supporting a plurality of superposed transfer sheets in separated relation to permit form sheets to be interleaved-therewith, a stop bar having spring actuatedmeans pivotally mounted on the respective end portions of said bar for clamping the rear edge-portion of the carrier to the bar and having means for guiding the edges of the superposed form sheets.

5. Manifolding mechanism for typewriters comprising a rectangular carrier of thin tough flexible sheet material having at its front end means for supporting a plurality of superposed transfer sheets in separable relation to permit form sheets to be interleaved therewith and provided adjacent the rear edge with apertures, a stop bar having clamping members pivotally secured thereto adapted when positioned at right angles to said bar to be inserted through the respective apertures and thereafter to be pivotally moved into engagement with said carrier, and resilient means for causing the respective members to clamp the carrier against said bar.

6. Manifolding mechanism for typewriters comprising a rectangular carrier of thin tough flexible sheet material having at its front end means for supporting a plurality of superposed transfer sheets in separable relation to permit form sheets to be interleaved therewith and provided adjacent the rear edge with apertures, a stop bar having clamping members pivotally secured thereto, each having extensions beyond the pivot thereof provided with a laterally extending flange and a spring engaging said flange selectively operable to hold said member in clamping position or in upright relation to said bar for insertion through a registering aperture in said carrier.

'7. Manifolding mechanism for typewriters comprising a rectangular carrier of thin tough flexible sheet material having a straight front edge provided with a series of slits parallel to and suitably spaced from said front edge and from one another and of. a length greater than the width of the forms to be manifolded and terminating short of the side edges of the carrier sheet providing strips therebetween to which the rear edge portions of the respective transfer sheets may be attached and having marginal side portions so folded over the ends of the slits that the folds provide guides for the side edges of the superposed form sheets when inserted in interleaf relation to the transfer sheets, the folded over portions being adhesively secured to the body of the carrier from approximately the uppermost slit to the rear end thereof to reenforce the edge portions of the carrier, the body of the carrier sheet and the respective folded over marginal portions being provided adjacent the straight rear edges of the carrier sheet with apertures, a stop bar having in proximity to the ends thereof pivotally mounted clamping members provided with guides for the edges of the form sheets adapted when in upright relation to said bar to be inserted through the respective apertures in said carrier, each of said clamping members having extensions beyond the pivot thereof provided with a lateral flange, and a spring engaging the flange acting selectively to hold the clamping member in upright position for insertion or to cause the clamping member to grip the sheet against said bar.

8. A detachable follower for a manifold-pack carrier comprising a bar having pivotally connected to the end portion thereof a clamping member and guide and spring-actuated means for selectively holding the clamping member and guide in upright position relative to said bar or in clamping relation thereto.

9. A detachable follower for a manifold-pack carrier having recesses adjacent the respective rear end portions thereof comprising a bar having recessed end portions, clamping members and guides pivotally mounted in said recessed end portion to register with the respective apertures in said carrier provided with flanged extensions projecting beyond the pivot thereof, and springs mounted in said recesses engaging the respective flanges of said clamping means operable to retain the clamping members in upright position for insertion through the apertures in the carrier or in clamping position to grip the carrier against the bar.

JAMES W. FADER. 

